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Yeah, seems like a lot going on in the first episode, but one of the best things about The Wire was how it was a story about dozens of different people and how their worlds came to intersect with each other. You had cops, drug dealers, politicians, teachers, kids...it just weaved them all together into a compelling story about crime in Baltimore and how it impacted everyone. This show feels like it's very much that same style, although obviously it has a long way to go before it matches The Wire.

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I am so excited about this, although going to remain cautious. No matter how beautiful the setting, how great the actors, how "dark and gritty" you get, if the story isn't good the whole show is worthless. I.e. True Detective Season 2. Now I don't think there is much chacne this show is that bad, but it could also just be a beautiful looking mediocre story.

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Yeah, seems like a lot going on in the first episode, but one of the best things about The Wire was how it was a story about dozens of different people and how their worlds came to intersect with each other. You had cops, drug dealers, politicians, teachers, kids...it just weaved them all together into a compelling story about crime in Baltimore and how it impacted everyone. This show feels like it's very much that same style, although obviously it has a long way to go before it matches The Wire.

This is basically what I'm expecting style and structure-wise. It is David Simon after all. If it is using the story I'm assuming is the central plot or based upon,

Spoiler

the story behind the making of the film Deep Throat

,than it could be quite interesting. Of course, Simon and Pelecanos will be capturing time and place while weaving in stories and arcs revolving around that central story. They've already done a fine job capturing 1970s New York and Times Square.

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Well, Simon and Pelecanos appear certain the series is about the intersection of work and capitalism in the creation of the porn industry, which came into being in the early 1970's, and which was birthed particularly in this particular place and time on the blocks of Times Square. And yes, they plan to dramatize this narrative via the stories of intersecting stories of a variety of characters, as Simon & Co. did in The Wire.

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I'm from NYC... born and raised... and I remember how seedy 42st was before Guilliani turned it into a family destination... I'm awestruck at how they've captured the feel for how it was... I was only 7 years old in 1971 (when the show takes place)... but from the lighting, to the cars, to the bars, they really nailed it...

I think that the story has a way to go, but I think it should get there... the subject matter is really original, and this has all the makings of a great show... time will tell.

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I know -- every time I hear "Across 110th Street", I just time travel.

And even more so, I see, hear, and feel it all, particularly uptown whenever I heard Eddie Palmierie's "Harlem River Drive". The 1970's was a great period for latin music of all kinds in NYC. I hope they get some of this in the series. You sure as hell would have been hearing "Harlem River Drive" all over the Deuce back then.

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I think this show is great. Love seeing NYC in the 70s, especially as I live there now. My wife remembers when Times Square was all seedy so she's loving this too. The atmosphere is great, the acting is great, the story is interesting. Really glad it was just renewed for season 2.

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My parents are both from NYC, and they and the rest of my relatives have always talked about how miserable it was there during the 70s (and the 80s too, for that matter). I've never watched The Wire, although I know it's held in high esteem by both fans and critics alike. Thus far, the storytelling style on The Deuce has been extremely slow, and a bit monotonous at that -- obviously a show with this much crime, poverty, and abuse is going to be dark, but without any humor, it all just kind of blends together after a while. I think James Franco is talented, but I'm not quite on board with his performance here yet. The twins don't seem different to me, and playing an Italian guy involved with the mob is a surprisingly big role to fill when you consider all the other iconic actors who have gotten famous after playing Italian guys involved with the mob. Hopefully he'll get better as the show goes on.

I'm curious if they're going to kill Emily Meade (Lori) off in the first season, since that's apparently what happens to her in every HBO show she's in. Also, does anyone else think she looks a lot like Hannah Murray (Gilly)?